5 replies to this topic

[TroyH]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Troy and I am a 4th year Chemical Engineering/Chemistry (double deg.) student at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Western Australia. I have 1.5 years left in my course, and am struggling with plans for starting my career.

I would like to work in the renewable fuels/alternative technologies/green engineering fields, and new technologies are what interests me the most. I enjoy problem solving and am passionate about finding cleaner, more efficient and more socially responsible ways of processing. Currently I am working on a small biodiesel project.

In the short term, I would like to spend a few years working in Northern/Eastern Europe. I had previously been planning to directly approach companies there but recently have come to the conclusion it may be better to work for some time here in Perth, for a company that has interests in the countries I wish to live (Norway is my preference), and then requesting a transfer for a few years. There is a fledgling biofuels/alternative energy/bioprocessing industry here, and I would like to return from overseas, and use the skills I have gained to help expand this industry.

I have been told that the oil and gas industry is a very good environment for learning technical skills, and I have been most actively looking in that arena for potential employers, despite the fact it was never an industry I felt I had a future in. In the progress of searching for companies I could approach for vacation work (I need 12 weeks as part of my degree) and also for graduate employment, I have encountered a number of areas within the oil and gas industry that I feel I could work in. Mostly relating to the various technologies companies are using to clean up their activities, or research in cleaner alternatives. In spite of this, I'm still not sure it is an industry I want to work in long term.

If I were to work for an Oil and Gas company, I would be ideally looking for one which has a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility, new research and graduate training, and I do have some companies selected as options, most of which are European owned.

The reason I am posting this here, is that I have had many discussions with lecturers and professors at my uni, as well as a number of friends and acquaintances in industry, but a recent conversation with one person suggested that I am being far too idealistic, that my view on industry is too naive and that I will essentially have to compromise some of my personal ethics, because most of the "company ethics" type statements are purely marketing propaganda.

I'm hoping that by posting here, I could get a wider view of global industry and ethics, and perhaps some advice regarding the various options I have available to me.

Thankyou for your time.

Kind Regards,

Troy

[djack77494]

Hello Troy,
I commend your idealism and enthusiasm for "doing the right thing". You are fortunate to be starting your career at a time when we may be forced into moving towards renewable fuels and into other "more green" choices. Thus, I believe, you have a good chance of making a career in the field of your liking. Industry will move in the most cost effective direction unless/until forced to do otherwise. You'd probably do well to keep that in mind, especially if oil and gas prices move significantly downwards. Then, you'll see a great drop of interest in such noble pursuits, and you'll be able to detect a lack of intestinal fortitude in most of those who previously so loudly proclaimed the benefits of green technologies. I saw it in the early 80's when low oil prices absolutely destroyed the will of the whole world to move forward with the commercialization of synfuels. In the USA, outside of some research projects, only a single commercial facility was built, and that hung on by its fingernails (and significant government subsidies) until now.

My personal opinion is that the greenest and most practical way of providing energy to our growing populations will be through the development of fusion power. I doubt this view is widely held (lol). However, bio-technologies have a bright future and would be a good choice for someone entering the field of chemical engineering. I also like the idea of nanotechnology, but perhaps that's a bit too limiting.

Best of luck to you,
Doug

[gvdlans]

Did you consider to start working for an engineering or consultancy firm instead of an operating company? Engineering and consultancy firms do many different projects for many different companies and give a good opportunity to acquire technical and non-technical skills and get familiarized with many different companies. My own company ( see http://www.tebodin.com ) for example is currently doing many projects for oil and gas companies but also many projects for biofuels companies. We have offices in many countries in Europe (including Eastern Europe) and the Middle East so I am awaiting your application...

[TroyH]

Thank you both for your comments.

djack - I will keep that in mind.

gvdlans - I have had a look at your website, thankyou. I hadn't really given much thought to the consulting vs operating perspective. I had been approaching companies that do either.

Would Tebodin be likely to accept a graduate directly from overseas with only vacation work as prior industry experience? It has been suggested to me that even companies with a local office may be reluctant to transfer me directly to an overseas office for a short term assignment, as they (the local branch) would still be bearing the cost of my wages and accommodation, and that they would want to evaluate my performance prior to transfer.
I believe they are referring to 6 months as a short term appointment. I am looking more at 2 or 3 years in Europe before coming home.

Also, I am currently learning German, and plan on learning some Norwegian (As I have friends there). How much of a difficulty is there in the fact I would really only be able to work in English? I am willing to learn the language wherever I go, but don't feel I would be anywhere near capable of using it at a technical level within 2 years. I am aware that many US companies operating in Europe use English as the business language, but I am guessing this may not be the case in European companies.

I would be very happy to submit my application. Were you interested in looking at it yourself, or should I simply submit it via the website?

Kind Regards,

Troy

[gvdlans]

Troy,

I will send you some answers in a personal message because I think your questions are very specific and personal.

[TroyH]

Thankyou gvdlans.


If anyone else would like to contribute to this thread, I would greatly appreciate it.

Kind Regards,

Troy